CALGARY - Six weeks after Calgary’s Catholic school board overturned its ban on offering the HPV vaccine in its schools, public health officials have moved quickly to roll out an immunization plan for eligible students.

Beginning in mid-December, the vaccine for the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus has been offered to Grade 5 girls in Catholic schools, as well as Grade 9 girls who missed out during the board’s previous, four-year ban.

Further, Alberta Health Services is offering the vaccine to Grade 12 girls who didn’t have the chance to get the shot at school when it was first made available in 2008.

The high school seniors are receiving their vaccinations this week and next.

“We know there’s a higher uptake when it’s delivered in schools. We wanted to make sure they didn’t miss the opportunity,” said Dr. Richard Musto, AHS zone lead medical officer of health.

“This is an extraordinary effort, but relates to the fact they didn’t have the access in school before.”

The move to allow the in-school vaccines followed a public campaign this year from a group of doctors and parents urging the Catholic school board to overturn its controversial ban.

Most HPV infections go away by themselves, however, some can lead to cervical cancer. Public health experts say the vaccine is safe and effective.

Public schools began making the vaccine available in 2008. Eligible girls can also access it for free at public health clinics.

Calgary Catholic schools, however, became enmeshed in a debate over morality and medicine.

Following intense public pressure last year, the Catholic school board launched a consultation with school councils and found overwhelming support from parents for making the immunization available.

Since the vaccine requires a series of three doses over six months, public health officials had to snap into action to ensure Catholic schoolgirls received the full immunization before the school year’s end.

The eligible students were sent home with a letter from the board’s chief superintendent Gary Strother, along with information from AHS public health officials, said Janet Corsten, spokeswoman for the school district.

They were also given consent forms for parents to complete.

According to Musto, 840 of 1791 consent forms sent home with Grade 5 students have been completed so far.

Among Grade 9 students, about 37 per cent had already completed their HPV immunization through community clinics. The schools have so far received about 175 consent forms from 640 sent out.

Parents had the final say in whether their girls received the shot, Corsten said.

“Parents in those grades were able to chose whether or not they wanted their daughter to access the vaccine,” Corsten said.

The HVP vaccine will now be part of the schools’ annual immunization program in the following years, she said.